I know i could look this up , but i will ask it here,,appr. how long did it take to sail from europe to North

Question

America back in the pilgrim days?...assuming wind was good and atlantic ocean was fairly calm?

Answer 1

In my stamp collection I have a letter that was posted in Paris, France for delivery to Chester Connecticut, USA. It was carried by steamtrain to Le Havre, France.
The letter was posted on 13 October 1899. It arrived in New York on 22 October 1899 and was then transferred to Chester, Conn. The letter arrived in Chester on 23 October 1899 ready for delivery to a Mrs B E Harwood. So according to French and USA postal agencies, it took less than 9 days to cross the atlantic in 1899. Unfortunately I don't know the name of the Mail Ship that was used. This would enable me to confirm whether or not it was a steam ship or a sailing ship. But it makes for a facinating piece of social history.

Answer 2

Columbus did it in about a month. The Mayflower, 130 years later, took nearly three months, if I recall correctly. Much of the difference was that Columbus exploited the tradewinds which sped him on his way, while the Mayflower bucked the westerlies at higher latitudes.

Later English colonists' ships learned to sail south then west, then north to get where they were going much faster.

Assuming that the North Atlantic is fairly calm is a big assumption, especially when you have a three month voyage.

Answer 3

You're in luck, because I'm old enough to remember.

It seems to me it took us just under 3 months...just long enough to use up the supplies and not long enough for everyone to die of dysentery.

(Seriously, between 2 and 3 months, depending on weather, and layovers in the Canary Islands...really.)